Replies

1. 
   DonStephan | Jun 03, 2002 02:05am | #1

   check the articles page at http://www.homesteadfinishing.com to see if there is one titled "Saving the Finish" or something similar.

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 03, 2002 03:48am | #2

   The furniture refinishers work, but take some practice to perfect.  I also have a recipe for make-your-own that works well.  Lemme get my dinner out of the oven, and then I'll post it for you, along with some tips from my own experience.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 03, 2002 04:07am | #3

   Hi q-sawn, my blood sugar's a little closer to normal now, so I can send some info here.

   My first rather pushy suggestion is to toss out "The Furniture Doctor" and go find a copy of "The Weekend Refinisher" by Bruce Johnson.  Bruce is much kinder to his furniture than the so-called Doctor is!

   I will provide here his "Reviving a Shellac Finish" section, however I'm hoping you have tested the finish with a Q-tip dipped in denatured alcohol to verify that it's actually shellac:

   1. Clean the worn areas with a rag dipped in turpentine.  Wipe dry.
   2. Scuff the old finish lightly.  Wipe clean.
   3. Combine one part commercially prepared shellac with 4 parts denatured alcohol in a clean jar.
   4. Brush the solution over the finish in the direction of the grain, working only on one horizontal section at a time.
   5. Allow the solution to dissolve and revive the old shellac.  Let dry from 2-4 hours
   6. Rub out with 000 steel woll dipped in past wax.  Buff to desired sheen.

   OK, going to finish dinner now.  Will provide the "what if that doesn't work" solution in the next installment. :-)

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   forestgirl | Jun 03, 2002 04:30am | #4

   OK, back again.  The "reamalgamators" are just solvents marketed under a fancy name.  You can combine denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner at a 1:1 ratio and use it just as well.  It's been a long time since I've restored anything this way, but I recall using a 2- or 3-piece system -- 2 or 3 pieces of steel wool and 2 or 3 tuna cans of refinisher.  Working on one horizontal section at a time, dip the wool with Piece #1, apply the liquid to the surface and rub gently in circles, dissolving the finish.  Pick up a new piece of wool, rub gently more in a with-the-grain direction.  That wool piece (#2) then becomes your next #1 piece (for the next shelf or whatever).  The #3 piece might be dipped and squeezed, then rub with the grain again. 

   It's a very forgiving process as long as you're not too aggressive.  The trick is to get to a consistent look at the end.  I usually wipe at the end with mineral spirit, let it dry, and apply new finish.

   Mr. Johnson also provides a couple of Shellac Reviver recipes at the back of his book:

   • 2 parts mineral oil to 1 part clear liquid shellac:  Combine ingredients and apply with 4-ought steel wool or a cloth.  Buff dry with clean cloth.
   • For heavily crazed shellac --> 2 parts turpentine + 2 parts boiled linseed oil + 4 parts denatured alcohol:  Combine and apply with 4-ought steel wool or cloth, buff dry with clean cloth.

   Good luck!  It sounds like fun.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   alexlisa | Jun 03, 2002 09:46pm | #5

   Thanks, Forest Girl, you are as ever a font of wisdom. So why you dissing my man the Furniture Doctor? I like the old yankee skinflint stories. I actually have both books. Maybe I should finally read them, eh?

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 04, 2002 05:46am | #6

   Hiya q-sawn.  Sorry I was so blunt!!  :-)  I read the Doctor book years ago, and truth be told, I don't remember what got my back up (feline slang, that) but he came up with a couple things that just set my teeth on edge (ooooops, mixing metaphors, oh dear)....  I think you'd really enjoy the Weekend book.  He tells some funny stories too, and I like his preference to restoring when possible.  Eminently practical, but gentle too.  ;-)

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

   Edited 6/3/2002 10:47:45 PM ET by forest_girl